Abortion Act 1967

Earl Howe: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health (Andrew Lansley) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	There have recently been a number of serious allegations involving potential breaches of the Abortion Act 1967. The Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester Police and the West Midlands Police, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) are investigating the allegations into sex selection at a number of abortion services. The Chief Medical Officer has written to all abortion providers reminding them of their duties under the Abortion Act. The GMC interim orders panel has suspended or placed restrictions on the three doctors named in the press reports. Decisions on the registration and approval of the clinics are awaiting the investigations by the CQC and Department of Health officials into compliance with the Act and registration requirements.
	Registration inspections by CQC in February also identified cases where doctors had signed the required certificate of the ground for the abortion (HSA1 forms) before the woman had been seen in the clinic. The Act requires two doctors to certify that at least one (and the same) ground for abortion exists in relation to a specific woman. The pre-signing of these forms is potentially a criminal offence and is being investigated by the CQC and the police and may lead to further referrals to the GMC or NMC.
	In light of the serious nature of these allegations, CQC is this week conducting a series of unannounced inspections of all abortion providers. Any evidence of failure to comply with the Act and registration requirements will be investigated by CQC, the police and other regulatory bodies. I will consider withdrawing an independent abortion provider's approval to conduct abortions if the requirements of the Act are not being met. Any provider's registration to carry out termination of pregnancy may also be suspended or cancelled by the CQC. I will provide further final details of actions taken when the initial investigations are complete.
	In addition, my officials will work with the CQC and other regulatory bodies to examine compliance with the Act and relevant statutory and professional requirements in order to inform the planned revision of the Procedures for the Approval of Independent Abortion Providers for consultation later this year.

Afghanistan

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I wish to inform the House that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, together with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development, is today publishing the 15th progress report on developments in Afghanistan since November 2010.
	On 11 March a US soldier killed and injured a large number of Afghan civilians in their homes. We send our deepest condolences to the victims and their families and we support the investigation into the attack. As General Allen, Commander ISAF, has stated. this incident in no way represents the values of ISAF and coalition troops or the abiding respect we feel for the Afghan people
	On 6 March, five soldiers from the 3rdBattalion the Yorkshire Regiment and one from the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment were killed when their Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle was struck by an explosion. The Prime Minister expressed deep sadness at their deaths and said that it stood as a reminder of the huge sacrifice that our troops have made, and continue to make, for the work we are doing in Afghanistan. This incident will be reported, in full, in March's statement.
	On 21 February, religious materials, including copies of the Koran, were mistakenly disposed of by US service personnel by burning at Bagram airfield. This sparked a mass demonstration at the facility. In the following days protests spread to over 40 locations across Afghanistan. It remains unclear whether the incident will have any lasting repercussions. In the short term at least it has damaged Afghans' perception of ISAF forces.
	NATO Defence Ministers met in Brussels on 2-3 February. NATO members restated their commitment to Afghanistan. The Secretary-General reaffirmed that the decisions made at the Lisbon summit will remain the bedrock of the ISAF strategy. Importantly this strategy will see ISAF forces remain in Afghanistan, in a combat role, until the transition process completes at the end of 2014.
	Despite these events, the UK continues to work with the Afghan Government and their people to ensure that local communities benefit from better public services, including justice, healthcare, education and roads.
	In his Written Ministerial Statement of 9 November 2009, the then Secretary of State for Defence set out the UK policy on the detention and transfer of persons captured by UK forces in Afghanistan. We are currently reviewing that policy, in the light of operational security requirements and the US-Afghan memorandum of understanding on detention arrangements signed earlier this month. Pending the results of this review, the UK is additionally and exceptionally holding two individuals whose continued detention we judge necessary, for force protection purposes, rather than to gain further intelligence.
	We welcome the recent steps taken by the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to enhance their relationship. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited Kabul on 1 February. Prime Minister Gilani published a statement on 24 February which supported an inclusive Afghan-led peace process. It called on the Taliban leadership and other insurgency groups to participate in a national reconciliation process. Hina Rabbani Khar visited London on 21 February. I and the International Development Secretary had productive and substantive discussions with her on the enhanced strategic dialogue and other matters. These discussions included UK-Pakistan relations, Afghanistan and the importance of regional stability. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan recognise that their long-term prosperity and security depend on maintaining strong and positive relations with each other.
	I am placing the report in the Library of the House. It will also be published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (www.fco.gov.uk).

Alcohol

Earl Howe: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Anne Milton) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today we have laid before Parliament the Government's response to the Science and Technology Committee Report on Alcohol Guidelines (Cm 8329). Clear and easily understood information is central to ensuring that everyone is aware of the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and can make informed choices about responsible drinking. The response sets out the Department of Health's intention to commission a review, led by Dame Sally Davies, as the UK Government's principal medical adviser to look at the current drinking guidelines, and the evidence base.
	Copies of the Government's response are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office. It is also available at: www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/response-alcohol-guidelines/.

Aviation: Night Flying

Earl Attlee: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Transport (Theresa Villiers) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
	The current restrictions on night flying at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports were set in 2006 and are due to expire in October 2012.
	The Government's forthcoming aviation policy framework will set out key parameters for aviation, including on noise annoyance to local communities. To ensure our proposals to replace the current night flying regime can take account of the aviation policy framework which the Government have committed to have in place by next spring, and will include the framework for managing noise, we will extend the existing night flying regime at these airports for a period of two years until October 2014. As a first step to replace the current regime in 2014, we will launch a first stage consultation later this year which will seek detailed evidence of the effectiveness of the current regime including costs and benefits and airlines' fleet replacement plans. This will be followed by a second consultation next year which will enable us to take account of adopted policy when developing our specific proposals.
	The Government will take into account the freeze in quota limits during this extension period when setting the next regime and expects airlines to continue to improve their environmental performance in the interim.
	Further details of the extension and the timetable for setting a new regime have been published on the department's website.

Benefits

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Pensions (Maria Miller) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Disability living allowance is being replaced by a new benefit called personal independence payment for people aged 16-64.
	We will be publishing a formal consultation later today on the detailed benefit rules that will underpin personal independence payment. We are running a full consultation that will run for 14 weeks from 26 March to 30 June 2012.
	The consultation also covers the rules governing eligibility and payability of PIP for certain groups. It provides further details on how we will reassess DLA recipients and what the passporting arrangements will be under personal independence payment.
	This consultation follows our initial consultation which was held between December 2010 and February 2011 on the reform of DLA, including the high level structure of the new benefit.
	Today's publication will inform the development process. We welcome views from disabled people and their representative organisations. We will actively engage with these groups throughout the consultation period to ensure we get the detailed design right.
	I will place a copy of the formal consultation in the Library.

Buses

Earl Attlee: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Norman Baker) has made the following ministerial Statement.
	I am today announcing a series of reforms which I propose to make to improve the system of local bus subsidy and regulation in England. These are set out in the paper Green Light for Better Buses, copies of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.
	I am also pleased to announce today an extra £15 million in funding for increasing the uptake of smart ticketing equipment, particularly among small and medium-sized companies. This makes a total bus funding package of £115 million, if taken alongside last week's announcement (Official Report, 23 March 2012, col. 81WS) on better bus areas (£70 million) and the Green Bus Fund (£31 million). This considerable sum underlines the coalition Government's firm commitment to investment in transport infrastructure, tackling congestion, and decarbonising transport.
	Over the past year, I have been discussing with bus companies, local transport authorities and passenger groups the need for reforms to the bus services operator grant which the Government pay to every company that runs local bus services. The system of subsidy we have inherited is poorly targeted. It does not distinguish between profitable services and those that require local council support. It does not take into account the differing public transport needs of urban and rural areas. And it does little to incentivise fuel-efficient buses.
	The proposals I am announcing today have been carefully formulated to attract more people on to buses, to ensure better value for the taxpayer and to give local transport authorities more influence over their local bus networks. They also signal a move to break the link between fuel use and subsidy.
	The Government have also responded today to the recommendations from the Competition Commission's report into the supply of local bus services in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland and London). We have committed to introduce regulatory changes that will remove the barriers facing bus companies that attempt to engage in competition on new bus routes and in new bus markets.
	We will also support and guide urban areas in their efforts to introduce new reasonably priced tickets that can be used on any bus, not just on those of a single company. And we will help local councils in their procurement of tendered bus services.

Earl Attlee: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Norman Baker) has made the following ministerial Statement.
	I am today announcing the winning bidders for the Better Bus Area and Green Bus Fund competitions, which we launched before Christmas 2011.
	Taken together, this significant investment will get more people on buses, and so aid the department's overarching objectives of helping to create growth and cut carbon.
	The quality of the bids for the Better Bus Area Fund and Green Bus Fund have been excellent and I am pleased to report that because of the prudent financial management of the department's funds by the Secretary of State and her ministerial team, I have been able to increase the allocations previously announced, from £20 million to £31 million in respect of the Green Bus Fund, and from £50 million to £70 million in respect of the Better Bus Area Fund.
	Projects under these two funds will help drive forward our bus travel in England, helping buy, among other things:
	439 low-carbon buses to forge the future of the low-carbon economy (we expect the majority of these to be manufactured in the UK); the development of hop-on hop-off multi-operator tickets that put spontaneity back into the hands of the passenger;real-time information for bus passengers and for bus operators to cut down waiting time and prevent buses bunching up. No more waiting for a bus and then three come along at once; andsmarter traffic lights that recognise buses and give them priority with barely an impact on other traffic.
	Twenty-four lead local transport authorities across England will benefit from the £70 million Better Bus Area Fund, right across the country. Five local transport authorities and 26 bus companies have been awarded £31 million of Green Bus funding.
	Together this package will encourage people onto the bus, cutting congestion, promoting a low-carbon transport infrastructure and encouraging growth.
	Documents listing the successful bidders under each competition have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and are being published on the DfT website.
	I will be in a position to make a further statement on bus subsidy reform in the near future.

Children and Young People: Secure Estate

Lord McNally: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Crispin Blunt) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today we are publishing our response to the consultation on the Strategy for the Secure Estate for Children and Young People for England and Wales alongside plans for the secure estate until 2015.
	Both are joint publications between the Ministry of Justice and the Youth Justice Board.
	Custody is the appropriate sanction for those young people who commit the most persistent and most serious crimes. Custody is always a last resort but can help young people face up to and address their offending behaviour. It is also an opportunity, if properly delivered, to set young people on a more constructive path.
	The recent reduction in the number of young people in custody means that the secure estate is now going through a period of change. This has presented us with an opportunity to consider the most appropriate configuration of the estate and consider whether different regimes can deliver improved outcomes.
	The response to the consultation and the future plans for the secure estate can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at www.justice.gov.uk.

Disabled People: Grants

Baroness Hanham: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Housing and Local Government (Grant Shapps) made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 23 March 2012.
	Today the Department for Communities and Local Government is announcing the local authority allocations for the disabled facilities grant programme in England, making available £180 million in 2012-13. An additional £228,750 will be paid to local authorities that have funded adaptations for ex-service personnel in 2011-12, to enable them to live independently at home with dignity and respect. This recognises Government's commitment to helping service personnel gain the housing they deserve.
	Local authorities are being informed of their individual allocations. Details of the amount awarded to each authority will be available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website and a table detailing the funds provided to individual authorities has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The disabled facilities grant programme has been protected. By the end of the spending review period the national disabled facilities grant budget will increase from £169 million in 2010-11 to £185 million in 2014-15. In January we announced an additional £20 million DFG funding, bringing the total this year up to £200 million, delivering a total investment of £745 million over the SR period.
	The programme helps disabled people to live as comfortably and independently as possible in their own homes through the provision of adaptations. Entitlement to a disabled facilities grant is mandatory for eligible disabled people and the grant provides financial assistance for the provision of a wide range of housing adaptations ranging from stair lifts, level access showers and home extensions. The programme is therefore key in delivering the Government's objective of providing increased levels of care and support to both disabled and vulnerable people to help them live independently in their own homes.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government wrote to all local authorities in January 2011 to announce a small change to the disabled facilities grant allocation methodology, with part of the allocation being distributed using a relative needs weighted index. We are making £180 million available in 2012-13, the same as the main allocation in 2011-12, and as a result, all local authorities will receive the same individual allocations as they did in 2011-12.
	Government have also invested £1.5 million in the FirstStop information and advice service which aims to help older and vulnerable people make informed decisions about their housing, care and support options and to help them maintain independent living in later life. In addition, the Government provided £51 million funding for Handypersons schemes over the spending review period to deliver small home repairs and adaptations.

Discretionary Social Fund

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Pensions (Steve Webb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Last year I announced measures to manage crisis loan demand back towards pre-2006 levels, prior to reform of the discretionary elements of the Social Fund.
	From April 2013 the existing crisis loans scheme will be abolished and replaced in part by new local provision by Local Authorities in England and the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales.
	While the April 2011 measures have made a considerable contribution towards managing demand, further measures are required prior to the transfer of funding for the new local provision. I am therefore announcing two further changes to the crisis loan system.
	From 9 April 2012:
	for non-householders facing an emergency or disaster situation, the maximum crisis loan award in relation to living expenses will be based upon 30% of the appropriate benefit personal allowance rate, rather than the current rate of 60%. Householders and people without accommodation will continue to receive maximum awards based upon 60% of the appropriate benefit personal allowance rate; andcrisis loans awarded to alleviate hardship because child tax credits have not been received will be treated as alignment payments. This means that they will be exempt from the cap that restricts crisis loan living expense awards to three in a 12-month rolling period. (Alignment payments will be replaced by short-term advances from April 2013 and will continue to be administered by DWP).Crisis loans for living expenses are awarded for two main reasons. To help:a benefit claimant to bridge an income gap before their first full benefit or wages are paid; or a person who faces other situations in which their normal income has been lost, stolen or is otherwise not available.
	A person who does not have to maintain their own dwelling because they are living in the dwelling of someone else (who is liable for costs such as housing costs, council tax and mains fuel) does not need the same level of crisis loan award to mitigate a serious risk to their health or safety.
	The maximum living expenses award in an emergency or disaster for a person who is without any type of accommodation will continue to be based upon 60% of the appropriate benefit personal allowance rate to take account of their special needs.
	These changes do not alter the requirement of the department to consider an applicant's need for an award, whether or not they are a householder.
	Copies of the amended Secretary of State directions and the equality impact assessment will be placed in the House Library later today.

ECOFIN

Lord Sassoon: My honourable friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mark Hoban) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Economic and Financial Affairs Council was held in Brussels on 13 March 2012. Ministers discussed the following items:
	Financial transaction tax-state of play
	The presidency presented a state of play note that listed a number of open issues that remained with the FTT proposals following the completion of the first technical reading. Ministers discussed these issues and agreed that more technical work and supplementary analysis by the Commission, including looking at possible alternatives, was necessary ahead of an orientation debate later in the Danish presidency. I reiterated that the UK position of opposition to the Commission proposals for an FTT remained unchanged.
	Reinforcing and deepening fiscal surveillance on Greece
	The presidency introduced a recommendation for a Council decision addressed to Greece with a view to reinforcing and deepening fiscal surveillance and giving notice to Greece to take further measures judged necessary to remedy its excessive deficit. This recommendation was adopted by the council.
	Alert mechanism report
	Ministers agreed council conclusions on the alert mechanism report. The alert mechanism report is part of the new macroeconomic imbalances procedure. The Commission will now begin finalising the in-depth reviews for those countries flagged as potentially being at risk of having or developing imbalances.
	Follow up to the European Council Meeting of 1 and 2 March 2012
	The presidency briefly reminded Ministers of the March European Council conclusions and stressed the importance of translating those conclusions into action ahead of the June European Council.
	Read out from G20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Governors (Mexico 25 and 26 February 2012)
	The presidency briefly summarised the discussions at the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting. The Commission noted that there seemed to be moderate optimism on the euro area position, although significant challenges remain. The Commission and European Central Bank also noted the importance of agreeing on reinforcement of euro area firewalls.
	Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact (Hungary)
	The Commission presented a proposal to suspend €495 million of cohesion fund (CF) commitments to Hungary in 2013, following the Council decision on 24 January that Hungary has not taken effective action to sustainably correct its excessive government deficit. After an extended discussion between Ministers, the proposal was adopted by the council. Hungary was willing to accept the decision in light of a statement in the minutes of the meeting making it clear that the Council would return to the matter at its meeting on 22 June, with a view to lifting the suspension if Hungary undertakes the necessary corrective measures. The Commission also presented a recommendation on measures to be taken to bring an end to the situation of excessive government deficit in Hungary. This was agreed by Ministers.
	Any other business: informal ECOFIN
	The presidency looked forward to the forthcoming informal ECOFIN in Copenhagen on the 30 and 31 March and set out some possible items for discussion, including the relationship and co-operation between the euro area and the EU as a whole.
	Any other business: discharge procedure
	The presidency debriefed the council on the presentation to the Parliament on 28 February of the council's recommendations on the discharge for the 2010 Budget.
	Eurogroup debrief
	Ministers were debriefed over breakfast on the Eurogroup meeting of 12 March which had discussed the economic situation and the progress on deficit and debt sustainability efforts being made by a number of euro area member states. Informal consultations had also taken place over appointments to the ECB Board, head of the Eurogroup and head of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
	European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) president
	Ministers discussed the forthcoming election of a new president for the EBRD. Two candidates had already been nominated, including the incumbent, and in the course of the discussion Poland confirmed it would be putting forward a candidate. I also informed ECOFIN that the UK would be putting a candidate forward. The Chancellor has since nominated Sir Suma Chakrabarti as the UK candidate.

Gypsies and Travellers

Earl Attlee: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Bob Neill) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 23 March 2012.
	The Government are today publishing their new planning policy for traveller site provision following a consultation initiated last year.
	The summary of consultation responses and the final planning policy document will be placed in the Library of the House.

Health: Dementia

Earl Howe: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health (Andrew Lansley) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today, the Prime Minister launches his challenge on dementia to tackle one of the most important issues we face arising from an ageing population. The challenge sets out the Government's ambition to increase diagnosis rates, raise awareness and understanding and to strengthen substantially our research efforts.
	Dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face as a society and we are determined to transform the quality of dementia care for patients and their families. In England today there are an estimated 670,000 people are living with dementia, a number that is increasing with one in three people set to develop dementia in the future.
	England was one of the first countries in the world to have a national dementia strategy and progress has been made since the launch of the strategy in 2009. But we are determined to do more to address this challenge.
	The Prime Minister's challenge sets out three key areas where we want to go further and faster, building on the progress made through the national dementia strategy. The three areas are:
	driving improvements in health and care;creating dementia-friendly communities that understand how to help; and better research
	We know that we need to do more to raise diagnosis rates for people with dementia, with an estimated 42% of people with dementia currently having a diagnosis. Only when the condition is diagnosed can people and their families and carers get the support they need to help them. As well as when they normally see their general practitioner, the five-yearly NHS health check will be also used as an opportunity to identify risk factors for dementia such as hypertension, alcohol and obesity. Over 65 year-olds will also be made aware of memory services and those at risk will be referred on.
	We are also making sure that the NHS has the right incentives to identify signs of dementia when people are in hospital. From April 2012, £54 million will be made available through the dementia commissioning for quality and innovation to NHS hospitals in England for those who assess over 75 year-olds admitted to hospital to check for signs of dementia. From April 2013, we will build on that incentive so that hospitals are rewarded for demonstrating good quality care for people with dementia.
	The Government will also take further steps on research. The United Kingdom is world renowned for dementia research, but we still do not know enough about this devastating condition and the level of public participation in dementia research trials remains low. The funding for research into dementia and neurodegenerative disease will double to over £66 million by 2014-15 (compared to 2009-10). The Medical Research Council will be making major funding available for BioBank with a view to scanning the brains of 50,000 to 100,000 participants. This will build a world-leading resource for research into dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. We also want to see more people with dementia taking part in research. Inviting patients to participate in research will become part of a quality marker for memory clinics.
	Finally, the challenge of dementia is not one for government alone, but for all society. We want to develop awareness and understanding, and tackle stigma, so that all parts of society can contribute. The Government will continue to fund awareness campaigns for dementia and by 2015 the aim is to have at least 20 cities, towns and villages working together as dementia-friendly communities, where local businesses, organisations and individuals come together to support people to live well with dementia, helping them remain independent for longer.
	Three champion groups will be convened to bring together the leading organisations and groups with an interest in dementia to support the delivery of the Prime Minister's challenge. The champion groups will report on progress to Department of Health Ministers who will report to the Prime Minister in September 2012.
	The Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia has been placed in the Library. Copies are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.
	I will update the House on progress in due course.

HMS "Vengeance"

Lord Astor of Hever: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I wish to inform the House that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract valued at £350 million with Babcock Marine Ltd for the long overhaul period (refuelling) (LOP(R)) for HMS "Vengeance", to take place at Devonport dockyard, Plymouth. HMS "Vengeance" is one of the four Vanguard Class submarines, carrying Trident missiles which provide the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent.
	The LOP(R) is essential to enable HMS "Vengeance" to remain operational. The work programme, which is scheduled to last approximately three and a half years, will involve the installation of a new reactor core, the energy source that powers the 15,000-tonne vessel. The new core will provide the submarine with sufficient fuel for the remainder of her planned service life. The LOP(R) will also include the installation of improved strategic weapons system equipment and the integration of a tactical weapons submarine command system. The LOP(R) will also enable "Vengeance" to achieve safety recertification.
	The awarding of the £350 million contract will secure around 1,300 jobs in Devonport dockyard, with a further 700 in the supply chain. It will ensure that Devonport remains a centre of engineering excellence, preserving the UK's sovereign capability and many highly skilled jobs for years to come. The contract has been awarded using an improved performance-based contracting strategy agreed as part of the Babcock Marine terms of business agreement, which aims to return significant savings of several hundreds of millions of pounds to the MoD over the 15-year duration of the agreement.
	This is the last time the Royal Navy's submarines will require refuelling, as newer classes of submarines are designed with sufficient fuel for their entire service life. Extended maintenance periods, however, will still be required to ensure safe and effective operation of submarines, so the unique capability at Devonport to carry out deep maintenance will remain vital in the future.

Intellectual Property Office: Performance Targets

Baroness Wilcox: I would like to advise the House of certain changes to the targets set for the Intellectual Property Office for 2012-13. The revised targets are as follows:
	Publish the Government's decisions on changes to copyright legislation proposed by the Hargreaves review, following consultation.
	Make progress during 2012-13 on key European policy dossiers so as to reflect UK priorities.
	Pursue UK business interests in IP in key emerging markets throughout 2012-13 by promoting the development of strong national IP regimes and delivering a refreshed portfolio of products and services for UK businesses overseas.
	Efficiently deliver high-quality patents, so that 90% of patent search reports are issued within four months.
	Efficiently deliver high-quality trade marks so that:
	between April 2012 and December 2012 applications for trade marks, for which we have not raised any issue and no opposition has been filed, are registered within four months in 85% of cases, within five months of 90% of cases, and within six months in 95%; and between January 2013 and March 2013 applications for trade marks, for which we have not raised any issue and no opposition has been filed, are registered within seven months in 70% of cases; andthe correct decision is made in at least 99% of applications.
	Our business outreach activities will reach at least 25,000 businesses, 85% of whom (based on a sample) will say that what they learnt has helped improve their (or their clients') business performance.
	Surveyed IPO customers will give an average score of eight out of 10 for the service they receive.
	Achieve a return on capital employed of 4%.
	Deliver an efficiency gain of 3.5%.
	Improve the IPO's engagement index so that our score is at least equal to that of the Civil Service 2012 benchmark.
	These targets reflect the purpose of the Intellectual Property Office, which is to promote innovation by providing a clear, accessible and widely understood IP framework, to enable creators, users and consumers to benefit from knowledge and ideas.

International Criminal Tribunals

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	In line with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's strategic framework priority of safeguarding Britain's national security by countering terrorism and working to reduce conflict, and as a demonstration of the Government's continued support for international justice as a key pillar of our foreign policy, I am pleased to announce additional UK funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
	We will provide £1 million to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, taking the UK's total contribution to £3.3 million since 2009. This contribution underlines the UK's steadfast support for the Special Tribunal which is key to holding to account of those guilty of serious crimes and ending the climate of impunity for political assassination in Lebanon. The UK is, and will remain, committed to working towards Lebanon's continued sovereignty and stability.
	We will contribute a further £750,000 to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, taking the UK's total contribution to around £4.4 million since 2006. This demonstrates the UK's continued commitment to Cambodian reconciliation and development and bringing justice to the victims, and families of victims of the horrific atrocities and deaths of around 2 million Cambodians under the Khmer Rouge.
	Finally, we will make available an additional £600,000 for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, taking the UK's total contribution to around £27.6 million since 2002. This will help allow the Special Court to complete the trial of Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia. The Special Court will be the first court to deliver judgment on a former head of state related to charges of war crimes for actions he took while in office.
	We believe there should be no impunity for the most serious crimes at the international level. The effective prosecution of those who commit these crimes is fundamental to preventing such crimes, which in turn is vital in the development of communities which are more stable and prosperous. I take this opportunity to applaud the important continuing work of all of the international tribunals.

Iraq

Lord Astor of Hever: My honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Nick Harvey) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	On 1 November 2010, I informed the House that the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) had been established and had started work to investigate the allegations of abuse of Iraqi citizens by British service personnel that had been brought to the MoD's attention.
	Since its inception, the IHAT has been under the superintendence of the Provost Marshal (Army) and has employed a number of Royal Military Police (RMP) personnel, as well as retired civilian police investigators.
	The IHAT arrangements have now been the subject of a detailed scrutiny by the Court of Appeal, in particular as to whether it would meet the requirements of independence. The court examined the responsibilities of RMP personnel and other members of the Army's Provost Branch in relation to detainees in Iraq. It emphasised that there was no evidence of any member of that branch actually being involved in misconduct against detainees. But the court concluded that the existence of those responsibilities meant that there was the possibility that the IHAT would have to look into their conduct. This means that an IHAT involving the RMP would allow the public perception of the possibility of bias.
	I have absolute confidence in the ability and integrity of the Provost Marshal (Army) and of the Royal Military Police, to conduct appropriate and effective investigations. At the same time, however, public confidence in the IHAT's work is extremely important to the Government, as is the Army's reputation. I accept the court's conclusion as to public perception and the issues that may arise in the context of a full investigation into these allegations.
	We will not, therefore, seek to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal. The MoD will, instead, reconfigure the IHAT to meet the Court of Appeal's concerns. I have therefore decided to remove the Royal Military Police role in relation to the IHAT. Instead, that role will be carried out by the Royal Navy Police, which is headed by the Provost Marshal (Navy). This change is already being implemented and will be complete by 1 April 2012.
	Given further concerns raised by the claimants regarding the location of the IHAT, we will also look into the cost-effectiveness of relocating its investigations away from a military base. Such changes would necessarily increase the duration and cost of the investigations and in the current financial climate it is not clear that they would be justified: accordingly I have set work in hand to test this issue.
	It is important to note that the Court of Appeal judgment did not state that a public inquiry was needed into these allegations. However, the Secretary of State for Defence will keep this under review in light of the results of IHAT's investigations.
	The IHAT is also best placed to undertake two further related investigations that have emerged since it was set up. These additional investigations will start once the IHAT has been restructured:
	the previous Secretary of State committed the MoD to a review of the Baha Mousa public inquiry report to assess whether more can be done to bring those responsible for the mistreatment of Baha Mousa to justice. An additional team will be established within IHAT to undertake this review; andthe judgment last July of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of al-Skeini, has also obliged the Government to undertake additional investigations into some further cases that were not part of IHAT's original scope. Another team will be established to investigate these specific cases.

National Careers Service

Baroness Wilcox: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning (John Hayes) has today made the following Statement.
	In New Challenges, New Chances, the Government's reform plan for further education and skills published on 1 December 2011, we reinforced the importance of first-class advice on careers and skills to help individuals make informed choices. It is right at the heart of our strategy for sustainable growth and social renewal.
	That is why, on 5 April 2012, I will be launching the National Careers Service. This major new service will ensure that accurate information and professional advice about learning and work is available to all.
	Alongside the launch of the National Careers Service, I will be publishing a document called The Right Advice At The Right Time bringing together in one place all that the Government and their partners are doing to ensure young people and adults get the advice they need on learning and work. We are now entering a new phase, where high-quality, high-status careers advice services should be readily available.
	I believe passionately in the power of careers guidance to transform lives. We have debated these plans on a number of occasions, including during the passage of the Education Bill. Throughout, the passion and commitment of my parliamentary colleagues to getting the best for young people and adults has shone through. I will be pleased therefore to make sure that copies of The Right Advice At The Right Time are made available to colleagues in the Libraries in the House.

National Policing Improvement Agency

Lord Henley: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Theresa May) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I undertook to update the House on the transfer of the National Policing Improvement Agency's (NPIA) critical functions to successor bodies.
	On 1 April, the Central Witness Bureau, Crime Operational Support Unit, the National Missing Persons' Bureau, Serious Crime Analysis Section and Specialist Operations Centre will transfer from the NPIA to the Serious Organised Crime Agency, an important precursor organisation to the National Crime Agency, which will become operational in 2013. These are the first operational areas to move to a successor body; a signal of their national importance in this special year.
	Work is continuing on the development of the police professional body and the new police ICT company. I will update the House as plans for these bodies are confirmed.
	I envisage that the NPIA functions transferring to the professional body would include, among others: learning, development, strategy and curriculum; authorised professional practice; exams and assessments; the international academy; the National College of Police Leadership; uniformed operational support; some specialist training; and the Criminal Justice and Local Policing Unit. I see the police professional body as being the holder of a body of knowledge for the police service and the transfer of key aspects of the NPIA's research, analysis and information unit will help to establish this ambition.
	Turning to plans for other NPIA functions, I intend:
	to transfer to the Home Office responsibility for the NPIA's Police Science and Forensics services; policy for police special constables; the NPIA's Automotive Equipment Section; management of the contract for the Airwave radio system and its replacement (including associated staff); some policy responsibility for police workforce strategy (though some will also sit with the new professional body and will have an important role to play in relation to the workforce); the secretariat for the reducing bureaucracy programme; and the National Police Air Service project team (which will continue to report to chief constable Alex Marshall). These functions, together with those I outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 15 December 2011, will transfer into the Home Office in autumn 2012;to transfer to the Home Office, as an interim measure, Hendon Data Centre Services (HDS) in autumn 2012. This temporary move will provide continuity for many of the police service's critical national identity systems; to transfer the NPIA's Proceeds of Crime Centre to the National Crime Agency when it is established in 2013. The NPIA's statutory powers to train, accredit and monitor financial investigators remain priorities, and, in due course, I intend to bring forward legislation to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act to allow for these responsibilities to be passed to the NCA. In the interim, I will ensure the important work of the centre is preserved until the NCA is fully operational; andfor the police professional body, once established, to continue the NPIA's existing and important relationship with the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism and the Home Office-funded Police National Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Centre. The Office of Security and Counter Terrorism will continue to provide management support and oversee the CBRN Centre budget after the creation of the new body.
	I will continue to update Parliament as we make further decisions on remaining functions, the future of the NPIA estate and the creation of its successor bodies.

Olympic Games 2012

Earl Attlee: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport (Justine Greening) has made the following ministerial Statement.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) made proposals to me, following consultation, for the level of penalty charges and associated fees that should apply for civil contraventions of parking and other traffic management measures in traffic regulation orders and notices made for defined Games purposes on the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and elsewhere in England. I am today announcing my decision on these proposals under the provisions of the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006.
	The ODA proposed that in most locations the normal level of penalties and fees should apply, and that in all places the normal discounts and surcharges for early and late payment should apply. However, it also proposed that in order to help secure a high level of voluntary compliance with the temporary parking and other traffic management measures essential to the Games' success, increased penalties of £200 should apply on the ORN, and in two of the residents and business parking protection (or LATM&P) areas being established around the Games venues-around the Olympic Park and in the Greenwich river zone. In addition ODA proposed a higher vehicle pound release fee of £300 in the same two areas.
	I have decided not to approve higher than normal penalties and fees on the ORN and in these areas, and to require all penalties and fees to be set at normal levels. I endorse the importance of securing a high level of compliance with the temporary traffic management measures, for the benefit of both the Games and local residents and businesses. However, I am not persuaded that a higher level of penalties and fees is an essential addition to the strategy of communication and advice to residents, businesses and motorists about the measures and their enforcement that is already well under way, supported by plans for effective on-street enforcement activity during the Games, including tow-away resources. I consider that increased penalties and fees would be an unnecessary burden in a challenging economic climate when we are already asking businesses and commuters to consider making significant changes to their travel behaviour during the Games.
	My decision concerns penalties for contraventions of new temporary measures implemented for the Games. It is consistent with that taken by the Mayor of London on 15 March not to approve temporary increases in the penalties and fees for contravention of existing measures in traffic regulation orders on the ORN in London and in the same residents and business parking protection areas.
	I am placing in the Libraries of the House a copy of ODA's table showing its proposals and the normal penalties and fees applicable in different locations.

Pensions

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Pensions (Steve Webb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Some defined benefit occupational pension schemes pay members who retire before state pension age a higher pension at the outset, which is then reduced at state pension age to take account of the payment of state pension. This allows a member's total retirement income to be smoothed over the period of retirement, alleviating possible financial hardship between the date of retirement and the payment of state pension.
	These arrangements are often described as bridging pensions, but they are also referred to by other terms, including, integrated pensions, step-up pensions, clawback pensions and state pension offsets. They can either be part of a scheme's basic design, or an option offered to members at retirement of either a bridging pension, or a level pension from the outset. Where there is an option the amount payable after age 65 will be lower if a member has opted for a bridging pension, so that the overall cost to the scheme will generally be calculated to be the same whichever option is chosen.
	The Government are aware that the changes being introduced to state pension age may have implications for some pension schemes which provide bridging pensions, and individuals who are receiving them. And we recognise that some changes to legislation will be necessary in order to take account of the changes to state pension age. In particular the Finance Act 2004 places an upper age limit of 65 on the payment of bridging pensions.
	At Budget 2012 the Government announced that changes would be made to the Finance Act 2004 to align the bridging pension rules with the state pension age changes.
	We recognise that the rules of some schemes providing bridging pensions may specifically refer to the current 65 upper age limit and that in some cases the rules may not provide for their terms to be amended easily, or even at all. They could then be in a position where they are unable to adapt the terms on which their scheme provides bridging pensions in order to take account of changes to state pension age.
	I therefore propose to introduce a limited power for the trustees of schemes which currently provide bridging pensions within the terms of the Finance Act to amend their scheme's rules (if they wish to do so) to take account of later state pension ages. This will allow trustees to adapt the terms of any bridging or integrated pension arrangement offered, but only to the extent that they consider this to be necessary or desirable in order to take account of the changes to state pension age and to the Finance Act. It will not allow them to make wider or more general changes.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Francis Maude) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	At the spending review 2010 the Government announced increases to member contribution rates in public service pension schemes saving £2.8 billion a year by 2014-15, to be phased in from April 2012. The contributions are to be increased progressively with protection for the low paid, to minimise the potential for members to opt out of the scheme.
	Last year the Cabinet Office consulted on a structure of tiered contribution rates that meet the requirements. The consultation opened on 28 July 2011 and closed on 20 October 2011, and over 3,400 responses were received. These regulations bring the increased contribution rates into force, which will apply to service from 1 April 2012 and continue throughout the financial year. The Government remain committed to securing in full the spending review savings in 2013-14 and 2014-15 from further increases to member contributions in public service pension schemes, and will consult formally on implementation in due course.
	Copies of the amendment scheme have been laid before the House.

Pensions: Automatic Enrolment

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Pensions (Steve Webb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am pleased to announce that today I will be laying one of the final building blocks to enable the start of automatic enrolment from later this year-the draft Automatic Enrolment (Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band) Order 2012.
	Alongside this draft order I will be placing a copy of the Government's response to the consultation on the 2012-13 review and revision of earning thresholds for automatic enrolment in the House Library. Following the commitment made to the House by my noble friend Lord Freud, the Minister for Welfare Reform, during the passage of the Pensions Act 2011 this response includes an analysis of the impact of the revised thresholds.
	I would like to thank the pensions community for its input to this work. This collaboration needs to continue if we are to make automatic enrolment a success.
	These papers will be available later today on the department's website: http://dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/auto-enrolment-revaluation.shtml.

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Pensions (Steve Webb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	On 25 January we issued details of the revised implementation timetable, reaffirming our commitment that automatic enrolment will start on time, from October 2012, and will apply to all employers.
	We also said that we would publish a consultation document setting out the full detail of these changes, along with draft regulations and an impact assessment.
	These documents will be published later today. The consultation will close on 4 May.

Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005

Lord Henley: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Theresa May) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am pleased to say that in accordance with Section 14(3), 14(4) and 14(5) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, David Anderson QC has completed the report on the operation of the Act in 2011, which will be laid before the House today.

Public Records: Colonial Documents

Lord Howell of Guildford: My honourable friend the Minister of State (David Lidington) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	In my Statement to the House on 5 December 2011 (Official Report, col. 6WS) about the colonial administration files held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), I informed the House that the first batch of files would be available at the National Archives (TNA) in April 2012. I am pleased to be able to confirm that those files will be open to the public from 18 April.
	This first batch will include files from Aden, Anguilla, Bechuanaland, Brunei, British Indian Ocean Territories, Sarawak, Seychelles and Malaya as well as the first tranche of papers from Basutoland, Bahamas, Kenya and Cyprus.
	Following the schedule approved by Professor Badger, the independent reviewer for the migrated archives of colonial administration files, the remaining files will be released progressively over the next 20 months. A timetable has been published on the FCO's website. The aim is to have all the material available for public view at the National Archives at Kew by the end of 2013.

Retail and Manufacturing

Baroness Wilcox: My honourable friend the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumers and Postal Affairs (Norman Lamb) has today made the following Statement.
	The Red Tape Challenge is playing a key role in reducing the burden of regulation that stifles growth. Unnecessary regulation has to be removed leaving only regulation that is necessary to safeguard the rights of consumers and employees.
	The retail theme was the first to go live on the Red Tape Challenge website and received almost 9,000 comments. The Minister of State for Business and Enterprise announced on the 28 July 2011 the range of retail regulations that the Government wished to scrap, simplify and abolish. Similarly, the manufacturing theme considered 128 regulations and seeks to scrap 47% of these.
	Today we are publishing the retail and manufacturing consultation. This seeks views on the removal of regulations that have been identified under both the retail and manufacturing themes of the Red Tape Challenge process as no longer required.
	The Government also intend to amend the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010. This is to remove heavy-handed intervention to make it possible to lower the age at which Christmas crackers can be brought from 16 to 12.
	Many of the regulations covered by this consultation were introduced to tackle a specific problem relating to a particular product such as; safety issues arising from poorly constructed bunk beds; or customers being misled through disingenuous pricing. While these regulations may be very effective at stamping out the problem they were designed to tackle, they are not flexible enough to deal with new products or practices.
	A new approach has been taken since these regulations were made, one which seeks to tackle the bigger problems facing consumers. The issue of price-fixing, for example, is dealt with in all its forms and for all sectors of the economy by the Competition Act 1998 while the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 protect consumers from products which are unsuitable for use whatever their purpose and whatever danger they pose, provided the supporting European standards offer an acceptable level of safety protection.
	A full list of the regulations to be amended and revoked are as follows:
	Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010(SI 2010/1554)Bunk Beds (Entrapment Hazards) (Safety) Regulations 1987 (SI 1987/1337)Children's Clothing (Hood Cords) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976/2)Imitation Dummies (Safety) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/2923)Pencils and Graphic Instruments (Safety) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2406)Wheeled Child Conveyances (Safety) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2866)Gas cooking Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/149)Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2693)Gas Catalytic Heaters (safety) Regulations 1984 (SI 1984/1802)All-Terrain Motor Vehicle (safety) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/2288)Cooking Utensils (Safety) Regulations 1972 (SI 1972/1957)Indication of Prices (Beds) Order 1978 (SI 1978/1716)Child Resistant Packaging and Tactile Danger Warning (Safety) (Revocation) Regulations 1992 Already (SI 1992/2620) Stands for Carry-cots (Safety) (Revocation) Regulations 1996-Already revoked (SI 1996/2756)Magnetic Toys (Safety) (Revocation) Regulations 2009 Already revoked (SI 2009/1347)
	The removal of these regulations will not reduce consumer's protections but will increase clarity and simplify the law for business and consumers.
	The consultation will stay open for eight weeks and close on Wednesday 23 May. This shorter period reflects the consultation that has already taken place through the Red Tape Challenge website and the deregulatory nature of these regulations. Direct contact will be made with consumer rights groups and business representative groups to ensure sufficient opportunity is provided to consider the implications of the removal of these regulations.

Schools: Funding

Lord Hill of Oareford: My honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove) made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today I am announcing our next steps in reforming the school funding system. These build on the plans we consulted on in July 2011, A Consultation on School Funding Reform: Proposals for a Fairer System. Since that consultation, we have given very careful consideration to creating a system that allocates funding on a fair and transparent basis and targets additional funding towards pupils who need it the most.
	The current system for funding schools makes raising the aspirations and attainment of all pupils difficult to achieve because funding does not always reach the pupils who need it most; we are clear that we need to tackle this. We want funding to follow pupils and pupils with additional need to attract additional funding. We also want to enable good schools to expand more easily so that more pupils can benefit and we want schools to know easily how their budgets have been calculated so they can plan better.
	In our last consultation we sought views on the introduction of a national funding formula, which would distribute money to local authorities based on the current needs of pupils. We also proposed simplifying the way that local authorities distribute that money to schools so that the whole process is more transparent and supports the needs of pupils.
	Support for reform was widespread but responses also suggested this model would need refinement and careful implementation. Getting the components and implementation of a fair national funding formula right is critical and we need to manage transition carefully so there is the minimum disturbance for schools. In the current economic climate, stability must be a priority.
	The plans we are setting out today in School Funding Reform: Next Steps Towards a Fairer System are our first steps towards introducing a national funding formula and explain how the system will operate from 2013-14.
	They show how local decision-making will be much simpler, more transparent and efficient. They will mean that administrative burdens on schools, academies and local authorities will be reduced and that funding arrangements are more understandable to head teachers, principals and governors, with less need for complex data and calculations. Local arrangements will be strengthened by improvements to schools forums.
	Schools will receive the stability they need as our plans also announce that the minimum funding guarantee will remain at minus 1.5% per pupil for 2013-14 and 2014-15. Schools will also be able to receive earlier notification of their budgets and academies will be funded on a more comparable and equitable basis through the Education Funding Agency.
	As well as funding for schools, our plans will support locally driven simplification of the funding arrangements for early years and a new funding system for children aged 0 to 25 who have high educational needs. Improvements to funding for high needs provision will mean it can be more responsive and will enable greater choice for children, young people and their parents.
	I am also taking steps in advance of introducing a national funding formula to address a clear anomaly in the current funding system where a small number of authorities receive funding at a level that does not reflect the mandatory pay levels for teachers in their schools. The local authorities affected are Haringey, Barking and Dagenham and Newham.
	All these steps will prepare us for introducing a national funding formula in the next spending review that will ensure fairer funding across the country, where funding follows pupils, schools have more control over their budgets, and children are funded on a more equitable basis no matter where they live.
	Copies of this publication will be available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Social Fund Allocations

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Pensions (Steve Webb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am pleased to announce that the gross discretionary Social Fund budget for 2012-13 will be £703.4 million.
	With the net funding available, I have been able to allocate a gross national Social Fund Loans Budget of £561.4 million and a national community care grants budget of £141 million from 1 April 2012.
	To provide help to area budgets facing unexpected and unplanned expenditure I will retain centrally £1 million as a contingency reserve.
	I will allocate a gross national Social Fund Loans Budget in line with the provisions in the Welfare Reform Act 2007. The aim is to control and manage the national allocation while providing consistency of outcomes for budgeting loan applicants wherever they live. All loans budget expenditure will be made from the gross national loans budget of £561.4 million.
	Community Care Grants
	Following a review in 2011 into the funding allocations methodology, allocations to social fund budget areas have been adjusted to achieve a fairer distribution of the £141 million national budget between areas and to move to the optimal funding position for the new locally based service from 2013.
	Details of individual community care grant allocations are contained within an explanatory note that I will place in the House Library today.
	Background Note about the Discretionary Social Fund Budget
	The discretionary social fund budget is cash-limited. Funding for community care grants is allocated to each budget area for management by Social Fund Benefit Delivery Centres on 1 April each year. The gross discretionary social fund budget allocated for 2012-13 is £703.4 million. This is made up of:
	
		
			 New money (net AME) £178.2 million 
			 Forecast loan recovery £525.2 million 
		
	
	This is to be allocated as follows:
	
		
			 Loans £561.4 million 
			 Grants £141 million 
			 Contingency reserve £1 million

Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011

Lord Henley: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Theresa May) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Section 19(1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 (the Act) requires the Secretary of State to report to Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of every relevant three-month period on the exercise of her TPIM powers under the Act during that period.
	The level of information provided will always be subject to slight variations based on operational advice.
	
		
			 TPIM notices in force (as of 29 February 2012) 9 
			 TPIM notices in respect of British citizens (as of 29 February 2012) 9 
			 TPIM notices imposed (all of the individuals who were subject to a control order at the time the TPIM Act received Royal Assent are now subject to a TPIM notice) 9 
			 Variations made to measures specified in TPIM notices 4 
			 Applications to vary measures specified in TPIM notices refused 7 
		
	
	During the reporting period: no TPIM notices were extended; no TPIM notices were revoked; and no TPIM notices were revived.
	A TPIM Review Group (TRG) has been set up in order to keep every TPIM notice under regular and formal review. The TPIM review group did not meet during this reporting period.
	No individuals were charged in relation to an offence under Section 23 of the Act (contravening a measure specified in a TPIM notice without reasonable excuse) during the period.
	Section 16 of the 2011 Act provides rights of appeal against decisions by the Secretary of State in relation to decisions taken under the Act. No appeals were lodged under Section 16 during the reporting period and no judgments have been handed down by the High Court in relation to TPIM cases.